[TR 36156547] Early medieval Burial Ground (NR) Roman Remains found (NAT) (1)

A cemetery, probably 6th c. was uncovered at Ozengall, about two miles from Ramsgate, when the Ramsgate-Deal Railway was being built in 1845. Numerous early medieval and Roman finds were made in the years following, including a Roman lead coffin burial and another Roman grave. Many of the finds are in the Mayer collection in Liverpool Museum. (2,3)

[For probable source of Roman finds see TR 36 NE 27]. Cotton says the cemetery was found 'close to where the spoil from the railway cutting ended' an area 'covered with hillocks' within living memory, but the 2nd ed. 6" shows the site in the centre of the mound: see illustration card. (4,5)

The site falls in a railway siding attached to a large vehicle depot. No further finds have been reported. (6)

TR 361654. Osengal (Ozmgell) Ramsgate. From 1845-50 an early medieval cemetery was disturbed during the cutting of the railway between Ramsgate and Deal. c100 graves were said to have been destroyed before the area was investigated. The graves were cut neatly in the chalk and filled first with earth and afterwards with the disturbed chalk. Often a thin slab of laminated sandstone covered the body. At least one grave probably held a coffin, as clench bolts were found. One grave had a beaker near the head; and others were reported to contain Samian ware in a similar position. 13 graves were investigated by Rolfe, FDC.R. Smith and Wright. Two graves held three bodies, however the others were individual and represented male and female. One grave produced a coin of Justianian dating to 527-65 and another produced 2 brooches of the 5th century. Silver sceattas, keys, buckles, scramasax, spearheads etc were also found. (7-10)

<1> OS 6" 1962 (OS Card Reference). SKE48371.

<2> Page, W. (ed), 1908, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Kent Volumne I, VCH 1, 1908, 362-3 (RA Smith) (Monograph). SKE7882.

<3> Page, W. (ed), 1932, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Kent Volume III, VCH 3, 1932, 162 (RF Jessup and MV Taylor) (Monograph). SKE7810.

<4> Hist. and Antiquaries of St. Lawrence Thanet, 1895, 263 (C Cotton) (OS Card Reference). SKE44061.

<5> OS 6" 1899 (OS Card Reference). SKE48314.

<6> F1 AC 05-MAR-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE41765.

<7> Gazette of Early Anglo-Saxon Burial Sites 1964, 131 (A Meaney) (OS Card Reference). SKE43569.

<8> JBAA 1, 1846, 242-43 (OS Card Reference). SKE44856.

<9> JBAA 2, 1847, 338 (OS Card Reference). SKE44898.

<10> JBAA 3, 1848 120, 246 (OS Card Reference). SKE44937.